Fanta Annie, Kim Sei Eun, Huang Cindy J, Tsai William, Huang Cindy Y
Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
Department of Family Science and Human Development, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States.
Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 30;16:1591730. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1591730. eCollection 2025.
Limited research has examined the impact of financial stress on families since the onset of COVID-19, specifically among Asian American (AA) parents. Informed by the Family Stress Model, this study examined the short-term longitudinal links between economic stress, parental psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depression symptoms), positive parenting behaviors, and child outcomes three months later (i.e., child internalizing and externalizing problems). Results indicated that Time 1 (T1) parental economic stress was directly and positively associated with positive parenting behaviors at T1 and child internalizing problems at Time 2 (T2). Parental psychological distress at T1 was directly and negatively associated with positive parenting behaviors at T1. Positive parenting behaviors at T1 were directly and negatively associated with child externalizing problems at T2. Parental economic stress at T1 had an indirect effect on child externalizing problems at T2 through parenting behaviors. These findings highlight the need for clinical interventions targeted at improving parent mental health and promoting positive parenting behaviors during times of economic hardship to prevent adverse child outcomes. Furthermore, policy efforts aimed at alleviating economic stress among at-risk families can help reduce social inequality and buffer the harmful effects of economic stress on AA parents and families.
自新冠疫情爆发以来，针对经济压力对家庭的影响，尤其是对亚裔美国家长的影响的研究有限。本研究以家庭压力模型为依据，考察了经济压力、家长心理困扰（即焦虑和抑郁症状）、积极育儿行为以及三个月后儿童的状况（即儿童内化和外化问题）之间的短期纵向联系。结果表明，时间1（T1）的家长经济压力与T1时的积极育儿行为以及时间2（T2）时儿童的内化问题直接且正相关。T1时家长的心理困扰与T1时的积极育儿行为直接且负相关。T1时的积极育儿行为与T2时儿童的外化问题直接且负相关。T1时家长的经济压力通过育儿行为对T2时儿童的外化问题产生间接影响。这些发现凸显了在经济困难时期开展临床干预的必要性，这些干预旨在改善家长心理健康并促进积极育儿行为，以防止儿童出现不良后果。此外，旨在缓解高危家庭经济压力的政策措施有助于减少社会不平等，并缓冲经济压力对亚裔美国家长和家庭的有害影响。
